Former Asda director Sally Hopson has joined Pets at Home in the new role of customer and people director.
Pets at Home is shrugging off the downturn as it bolsters its board of directors with the new appointment and forges ahead with expansion plans.
Hopson spent 14 years at Asda, where she held roles such as retail operations director, marketing operations director and people director.
Pets at Home chief executive Matt Davies insisted the retailer had not made the move in order to strengthen its board before a possible flotation. “The appointment has absolutely no bearing on strategy,” he said.
He added: “This appointment is a testament to the quality of our business. We try to get one or two very talented people into the business every year.”
Davies said he sees “huge growth potential” for expansion in the UK, with the opportunity for more than a further 400 stores in total. He said the retailer is on target to open 20 stores each year.
He said trading conditions are tough but the company is comfortable where it is and wants to offer better value than its competitors.
Meanwhile, Asda people director David Smith will retire from his post in January. Smith, who has been with the Wal-Mart-owned grocer for more than 15 years, will be replaced on an interim basis by Caroline Massingham, retail people director for George and Asda’s distribution arm, until a board replacement is found.
Asda has hired Karen Hubbard as operations director for its smaller stores. She will start in January and moves from BP where she was retail director.
Hopson spent 14 years at Asda, where she held roles such as retail operations director, marketing operations director and people director.
Pets at Home chief executive Matt Davies insisted the retailer had not made the move in order to strengthen its board before a possible flotation. “The appointment has absolutely no bearing on strategy,” he said.
He added: “This appointment is a testament to the quality of our business. We try to get one or two very talented people into the business every year.”
Davies said he sees “huge growth potential” for expansion in the UK, with the opportunity for more than a further 400 stores in total. He said the retailer is on target to open 20 stores each year.
He said trading conditions are tough but the company is comfortable where it is and wants to offer better value than its competitors.
Meanwhile, Asda people director David Smith will retire from his post in January. Smith, who has been with the Wal-Mart-owned grocer for more than 15 years, will be replaced on an interim basis by Caroline Massingham, retail people director for George and Asda’s distribution arm, until a board replacement is found.
Asda has hired Karen Hubbard as operations director for its smaller stores. She will start in January and moves from BP where she was retail director.
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